Michael Curtiz's 'Mildred Pierce' (1945)
Her Head in FilmsMay 22, 202401:43:02

Michael Curtiz's 'Mildred Pierce' (1945)

In this episode, I talk about Michael Curtiz's 1945 film "Mildred Pierce." Joan Crawford won an Oscar for her performance as the title character, a mother who, in the wake of the end of her marriage, starts her own restaurant business and tries to give a better life to her two daughters--Veda and Kay. But her eldest daughter Veda has an insatiable and destructive desire for material possessions and Mildred will stop at nothing to give Veda all that she wants. This is a magnificent film about motherhood and class mobility. I talk about Joan Crawford's life, why she fascinates me as an actress, and I also delve into "Mommie Dearest." As always, there are spoilers in this episode. 


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Full Show Notes: 

• Use the code “CINEMA” to get your first month free at OVID.TV (https://www.ovid.tv/)
• My favorite films on OVID (https://www.ovid.tv/her-head-in-films)
• Painted Landscapes of the Times (https://www.ovid.tv/videos/painted-landscapes-of-the-times)
• Fresh Kill (https://www.ovid.tv/videos/fresh-kill)
• My episode on Michael Haneke's Amour (https://herheadinfilms.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-123-michael-hanekes-amour-2012)
• Humoresque (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038622/)
• Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star (2002) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0329241/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0)
• Mommie Dearest (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082766/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0)
• My episode on Ingmar Bergman's Autumn Sonata (https://herheadinfilms.simplecast.com/episodes/2862c44b)
• Johnny Guitar (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047136/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0)
• Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/22804/mildred-pierce-by-james-m-cain/)
• My episode on Michael Curtiz's Casablanca (https://herheadinfilms.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-106-michael-curtizs-casablanca-1942)
• LuLaRich documentary (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15213278/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0)
• My episode on Ken Loach's I, Daniel Blake (https://herheadinfilms.simplecast.com/episodes/947f462f)

All My Sources

• Criterion Collection edition of Mildred Pierce (https://www.criterion.com/films/29025-mildred-pierce)
• Karina Longworth's six-part series about Joan Crawford on You Must Remember This (http://www.youmustrememberthispodcast.com/episodes/category/Joan+Crawford)